Multistage turbine



y 1958 c. YEOMANS 2,841,362

MULTISTAGE TURBINE Filed April 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 3. Fig. 4.

6! Mn Yeamans INVENTOR.

United rates atent flee 2,841,352 'r atented July 1, 1958 MULTISTAGE TURBINE Clifton Yeomans, Washington, D. C.

Application April 14, 1952, Serial No. 282,128

2 Claims. ((31. 253-69) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a multistage turbine and more specifically pertains to an improved turbine having a novel and advantageous rotor construction together with an improved cooling means for the same.

The primary object of this invention is to improve the construction of turbines, especially of the multistage type, and which are operated by an elastic fluid under pressure such as internal combustion gases, steam, or other elastic mediums under high pressure.

An important specific object of the invention is to provide a turbine rotor in which the customary blades or pockets are replaced by reaction members in the form of tubular elbows or the like.

Yet another specific object of the invention is to provide a turbine rotor in accordance with the preceding object in which the reaction members may be cooled and maintained within safe temperature limits by an improved cooling system.

Yet another important specific object of the invention is to provide a multistage turbine construction in conformity with the foregoing objects in which the turbine rotor may be constructed in various desired capacities by the assembly of a selected and predetermined number of rotor and stator assemblies.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a multistage turbine construction in which an improved circulating cooling system is provided for the turbine rotor, and wherein the cooling medium, after performing its cooling functions, may be inducted and discharged in an improved manner into the flow of the elastic pressure medium prior to its introduction into the turbine rotor.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, is to simplify, facilitate and render less expensive the construction of a multistage turbine.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one suitable construction of a multistage turbine incorporating therein the principles of this invention, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken from the left end of Figure 1 and showing the inlet conduit for the elastic fluid pressure medium;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevational View taken from the right end of Figure 1 and showing the exhaust manifold and discharge conduit for the elastic fluid medium; and

Figures 5-7 are vertical transverse sectional detail views taken respectively on the planes indicated by the section lines 5-5, 66 and 7--7 of Figure 1.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the multistage turbine incorporating therein the principles of this invention includes a substantially cylindrical casing 19 constituting the stator of the turbine, and which may convenienly consist of upper and lower compiementary sections detachably secured together as by fastening bolts 12 upon flanges meeting upon a medial horizontal plane through the casing of the stator. The opposite ends of the stator 10 have removably secured thereto, as by fastening bolts 14 and 16, end plates constituting respectively a pressure fluid inlet manifold cover 18 and a pressure fluid exhaust manifold cover 20.

A conduit 22 provides means whereby pressure fluid from a suitable source may be supplied to the interior of the intake manifold cover 18; while a similar conduit 24 constitutes an exhaust conduit from the exhaust manifold cover 20 whereby elastic fluid under pressure after its passage through the turbine rotor may be discharged from the turbine casing.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, in comparison with Figures 3 and 4, the manifold members 18 and 20 are provided with annular or ring shaped channels or chambers therein which constitute the pressure fluid intake and pressure fluid exhaust channels and manifolds of the device. It is to be understood that the inlet conduit 22 is disposed at an inclined position with respect to the manifold, as suggested in Figure 3, whereby a swirling motion may be imparted to the fluid supplied to the turbine. In addition, fluid may be supplied by a plurality of conduits 22 instead of by one conduit as illustrated in the interest of simplicity.

Suitably journaled in the stator if in journal bearings disposed in the end cover manifold members 13 and 29, is an axially positioned drive shaft 26 of any desired character, and which constitutes the power take-off shaft of the engine. This shaft extends axially through a rotor chamber disposed within the casing of the stator iii. As above mentioned, the stator is substantially cylindrical in shape, although the same increases slightly in diameter from the fluid inlet to the fluid discharge end of the same in order to permit the additional volume required for the expansion of the elastic pressure fluid.

The power shaft 26 is provided with an axially extending spline or keyway 28, by means of which the rotor, or the elements making up the rotor, are fixedly and non-rotatably secured thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated, this rotor preferably comprises a hub portion which consists of the sleeves 38 and 32, separated by a spacer sleeve 34, and which sleeves may be welded or otherwise rigidly attached to and secured to each other in the interest of rigidity of construction. In addition to this hub, the rotor includes pairs of support members 36 and 38 carried by the hub sleeve 3t) and extending radially therefrom in axially spaced relation, and .0 and 42 which are carried by the hub sleeve 32 and are disposed in a similar manner.

A set of tubular elbows 44 are carried by and mounted between the support members 36 and 38, these elbows being disposed in a circumferential manner and at suitable equidistantly spaced intervals about the hub sleeve 30. Preferably, the support members 36 and 38 are provided with appropriately positioned apertures therethrough and the tubular elbows 44 have their opposite ends inserted in these apertures and secured thereto in any desired manner as by welding, as shown at 46in Figure 2. It is of course understood that other fastening elbows within safe limits.

7 the support members 40 and 22.

means may be employed for permanently or detachably securing the tubular elbows to their support members; In a similar manner, a second set of elbows 48 are secured to support members 44) and 42. It will be apparent that each sleeve, 36 or 32, with its corresponding support members 36, 38, 4%, 4-2 and the associated elbows 44 or 48 constitute a rotor unit. The rotor may consist of one or more of these units, two such units'being chosen to illustrate the principles of this invention.

It will be noted that the elbows are bent intermediate their ends to provide two angularly disposed pipes or conduits. Consequently, when the elastic pressure fluid passes through these elbows the abrupt end in the passage will result in a reaction of the fluid against the wall of the, passage thereby imparting a rotative thrust to the elbows and consequently to the rotor to which the units are attached I desire that it be particularly noted that the outer peripheries of thesupport members 36, 38, 4t and 42 terminate in closely spaced relationship to the inner surface of the stator wall. Just suflicient clearance is provided at this point to permit rotation of the rotor without Contact with the stator walls.

In some instances, I may provide a circulating cooling system'which will maintain the temperature of the rotor For that purpose, conduits 50 and 52 may extend through the stator wall andinto the space between each pair of support members. Any

suitable cooling fluid such as air or steam may be supplied and will thus completely surround and cool the elbows as the rotor, units revolve in the rotor chamber. This cooling medium may bedisposed in any desired manner after the same has performed its functions, but I prefer to introduce the same into the elastic pressure fluid being supplied to the elbows and thus supplement the amount of fluid passing through the rotor. Forthat purpose, suitable apertures or openings 54 are provided in the support members 36, 38 and 40 whereby the circulating cooling medium may move axially within the rotor chamber towards the inlet end of the rotor.

A plurality of nozzles56 aremounted in and extend a through a supporting. annulus 53 which is positioned ing the rotation of the latter. Obviously any desired number of nozzles 56 may be employed, and the same may be welded to their carrying plates 58 or be secured thereto in any desired manner. a

An annular baflle ring 6 3' is secured to the support member 36 and extends towards the end cover member 18 as shown in Figure 1. This balile ring closely underlies the nozzles 56 and is disposed immediately radially inwardly of the elbows 44, The bafi'le ring causes the cooling medium flowing through the apertures 54 to pass radially outwardly through a restricted annular space and to be discharged with the elastic pressure fluid from the nozzles 56 into the inlet end of the elbows 44; nozzle and baflle ring assembly thus provides an injector effect for thus causing a circulation of the cooling medium about the elbows and eventually discharges the same into the elbows, thereby preventing a possible'de'ad air space between the elbows and the stator wall.

In addition to, or as a substitute for the introduction of steam or other fluid' through the coolant inlet conduits 50 and 52, I may prefer to'induct cooling air from any suitable source through suitable openings 62 into the stator between the support members 36 and 38 and coolant air and its function will be identical with that set forth. in connection with the coolant introduced through the pipes 59 and 52.

In some instances, the turbine may consist of a single rotor unit, which may dischar e directly into the exhaust manifold. 'However, where a multistage turbine is de- The movement of this stationary tubular elbows 64, of substantially the same construction previously described, and which are disposed with their opposite ends adapted to align with and register with the adjacent ends of th e elbows 44 and 48, as a will be apparent from Figure 2. This stationary set of elbows 64 is preferably carried by a pair of annuluses 66 and 68, which are spaced axially from each other and which areapertured to receive the opposite endsof the elbows 64. The "annuluses in turn are preferably welded or otherwise fixedlysecured to the walls of the stator. The stationary elbows are positioned reversely with respect to the rotor elbows so as to cause a reversal of flow of the'elastic fluid passing through the rotor and stator. This arrangement is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 and it will be seen that the fluid discharged from the fdischar e end of the elbows 44 pass through thestatibnar'y'elbo 64, has its'direction reversed and is then passed through the second set of rotor elbows '48. ,7 V

The same cooling arrangement is provided for the'stationary elbows as was provided for. the rotor elbows;

Thus, a coolant inlet pipe 70 similar to the pipes 50"aiid 52 may be provided, while an air inlet pipe 72, similar to the opening 62, may likewise be provided, functioning in the same manner. t T

In the embodiment consisting of the pair of rotor stages and the reversal stage of elbows, it will be ap-p parent that cooling has been provided for each ofih'e' sets of elbows, and that the cooling medium travels axially through thejcasing by means of the above mentioned openings and eventually is discharged into the intake of the first set of rotor elbows. I

I desire it to be noted that the elbows may be of van: ous constructions and shapes. Thus, each elbow be a single casting having angularly disposed end portions.

7 However, the elbows could be formed of two separate tion 'is believed to be unnecessary.

pipes welded or otherwise rigidly attached together inan angulated manner.

'In some instances, additional rigidity and strength'inay be imparted to the construction by providing radial ribs upon the members 36, 38, 40, 42 in order to strengthen and reinforce th'e same. a V

As so far described, it will be understood that tliehub assembly of the rotor consists of the hub sleeve members 30 and 32 which are separated by a spacer sleeve.

drical hub sleeve of a length equal to the combined hub sleeves 30,32 and 34 and having a diameter substahtially greater than the hub sleeve shown, this single sle'eye being keyed or splined'to the shaft 26 and having the suppoi't members 36, 38, 40, 42 secured thereto.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explana- However,- since" numerous modifications and changes will readily seeders those skilled in the art after a consideration of the rare going specification and accompanying drawings, it is at desired to limit 'the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but1all suitable modifications and. equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims. 1 h Having described. the invention, what is'cl'aiifie'das newis: i 1 1. An axial and radial flow multistage turbine c()ii;i prising a stator having a cylindrical rotor chamber and a. rotor therein'mdunted for rotationaboufl the sneer, the chamber,'said rotor having a plurality eranguisny;

bent tubes comprising hollow impulse members disposed under pressure into said hollow impulse members for imparting rotation to said rotor, means for circulating a coolant through said chamber and entirely about all of said impulse members and in heat exchange relation therewith, an annular bafiie on said rotor within said chamber adjacent and underlying said nozzles ior causing flow of coolant from said chamber into said impulse members by the aspirating efiect of said nozzles to thereby eliminate dead air regions in the circulation of said coolant.

2. An axial and radial flow multistage turbine comprising a stator having a cylindrical rotor chamber and a pair of axially spaced rotors therein mounted for rotation about the ax s of said chamber, each rotor having a plurality of elbows comprising impulse members, each elbow being secured solely by its opposite ends to its rotor, said elbows being disposed in circumferentially spaced positions on their rotor and equidistant from said axis, nozzles on said stator extending into said chamber and discharging elastic motive fluid into the elbows of the first rotor for imparting rotation thereto, a pair of rings mounted in said stator, a set of stationary reversing elbows mounted on the rings of said stator solely by their said rotors, said stationary elbows being positioned to receive motive fluid from the elbows of the first rotor and discharging the same into the elbows of the second rotor, means for circulating a coolant through said chamber and about all of said elbows in heat exchange relation therewith, an annular bafiie on said first rotor within said chamber adjacent and underlying said nozzles for causingfiow of coolant from said chamber into the elbows of the first rotor by the aspirating action of said nozzles to thereby eliminate dead air regions in the circulation of said coolant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,360 Wyand Dec. 13, 1904 790,426 Dodge May 23, 1905 866,352 Fullagar Sept. 17, 1907 990,781 Ross Apr. 25, 1911 1,952,197 Davis Mar. 27, 1934 2,382,842 Alford Aug. 14, 1945 2,445,837 McKenzie July 27, 1948 2,635,429 Auyer Aug. 3, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,466 Italy Jan. 14, 1931 

